special digital edition fall 2013 volume 43, no. 2 … digital edition fall 2013 volume 43, no. 2...
TRANSCRIPT
M I S S O U R I
Agriculture. Education. Leadership. Service.
Special Digital Edition Fall 2013 Volume 43, No. 2
YOUNG FARMERSClick To See Features Inside Our Special Online Issue
Featured Newsletter Supporters:
Farm Credit Services 2 Nodaway County Agri-Leaders 5 MFA 13
Featured Articles:
President’s Message 3
Summer Tour Recap 4-5
2013 Photo Contest Winners 6Photo Contest Registration 7Seller Beware 82014 Convention Preview 8Scholarship Winners 82013 National Institute 9-10
Meet Your State Officers 11-13
Missouri Ag Calendar 13
The President’s PenI sure like the feeling of a good plan being drawn up and ex-
ecuted. That’s just what happened this past July 28 during the summer tour. When I was told that the Maryville chapter was to host the summer tour I was a bit scared of what the results might be and I had a lot of questions. Who was going to help, who would donate enough money for us to at least break even, which farms and businesses would let us tour their facilities, would we get enough participants to make the event worth our time and donors money? I found out the answers over the past several months.
The Nodaway County Agri-Leaders has seen a large change in membership since I started attending meetings in 2000. Many of the old regulars I started with have faded away and new faces have taken their places. I was worried that old members would not come back, and the new ones would not want to help, but I was very wrong. We started out in December with a small group of members that came up with a general plan and a handful of places to stop. I was shocked when we had about a 90 percent success rate with our list of stops.
My question about who would let us tour their place was an-swered. We continued our meetings up through July and our crew just kept growing. I never knew who might be at the next meeting. We had former members who had not participated in the past several years show up as well non-members who just wanted to help out their friends and neighbors. I was amazed to see how personal connections worked to the committee’s ad-vantage. Someone on the committee knew the right person to get a donation, a meal, where to find people to cook and serve meals, host tour stops and so on.
The donors thought we had a good program in the makings and several companies wanted to jump on board with us. We ended up receiving enough donations to make some money; I imagine we will start our scholarship program up again. I am thankful for the support the local and state businesses gave us with their generous donations. I am also proud of our local members that helped make the 2013 tour a success.
I learned to have faith in those around me and surround my-self with team players. Everyone on our team had a niche and we used those niches to our advantage. I felt we put together a great tour and I heard several positive comments during to the tour to back that up. We ended up with more than 150 partici-pants so I needn’t have worried about who would want to come. It turns out we organized a great plan and executed it.
Thanks to all of the committee members, donors, helpers, and those who attended the 2013 tour.
Sincerely,
Nathan Honan, President
Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm WivesEXECUTIVE BOARD
Nathan Honan, President (NW)10897 120th St Elmo, MO 64445660-541-5693 [email protected]
Derek Lowrey, Vice President (NW) 321 SE 60th St Trenton, MO 64683(660) 654-1643 [email protected]
Fred Weiker, Past President (NE)201 N Howard Fayette, MO 65348(660) 728-3700 [email protected]
Jordan Yoder, Vice-President/Treasurer (NE) RR1 Box 216 Novelty, MO 63460(660) 341-3294 [email protected]
Jody Bergman, 1st Vice President (C) 207 N Waverly, PO Box 69 Alma, MO 64001(660) 580-0128 [email protected]
Tony Miesner, Vice-President/Sentinel (SE) 241 Pebble Ln Perryville, MO 63775(573) 768-2541 [email protected]
Jacob Bachmann, Vice-President, Secretary (SE) 21003 Hwy C Perryville, MO 63775(573) 768-5719 [email protected]
Jennifer Thogmartin, Vice-President/Reporter (SW) 11737 Norway Road Neosho, MO 64850(417) 437-5823 [email protected]
Lucas Thogmartin, Vice-President (SW) 11737 Norway Road Neosho, MO 64850(417) 825-3684 [email protected]
Representing DESELeon Busdieker, AdvisorPO Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102(636) 338-1002 [email protected]
Lisa Evans, Executive SecretaryPO Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102(573) 680-4107 [email protected]
Representing FBMAJohn Sponaugle, Adult InstructorBoonslick Tech Ed Center1694 Ashley Rd Boonville, MO 65233-2740(660) 882-5306 [email protected]
Joanie Baker, Adult InstructorKnox Co R-1 High SchoolRt 3, Box 59 Edina, MO 63537-9603(660) 397-2231 [email protected]
Representing MVATAJohn MorganAgricultural Education InstructorLex-La-Ray AVTS2323 High School Dr Lexington, MO 64067-1525(660) 259-2264, ext 219 [email protected]
Newsletter Staff Jennie Bedsworth (573) 291-7315 [email protected]
Agriculture. Education. Leadership. Service. Page 3
Page 4 Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives
Northwest Missouri State Univer-sity was the base of this year’s
Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives State Tour. The tour was hosted by the Nodaway County Agri-Leaders on July 28-30.We started out with a BBQ pork
meal and entertainment by Andrew McCrea. Dessert was homemade ice cream churned 13 gallons at a time by a belt from an antique tractor. On the 29th we started out with
breakfast and then headed south of Maryville aboard Heartland Motor Coaches. The stops on this route were Byergo Angus, Barmann Sod Farm, and Kawasaki motors. The Byergos welcomed visitors with
drinks and doughnuts followed by a presentation in their personal sale ring facility. They also had some stock on display. The first rain in more than a month altered the Barmann’s plans to demonstrate sod cutting; instead they displayed their equipment in a ma-chine shed and gave a talk about their sod business. The final morning stop was Kawasaki Motors where attend-ees were able to see how they build lawnmower engines. After a quick meal the buses head-ed north of town. The first stop was the Stiens Land and Livestock feed yard. Mr. Stiens talked about his cat-tle feeding and grain operations. Dr. Freuh and Silver Spur Salers were invited to Steins to display stock and give a presentation. Buses then headed on up the road to Hopkins to see the poly tanks built
State Tour Shows Off Northwest
United Electric CooperativeSutherland LumberLewis HybridsPioneerMilne-Dinsdale SeedChannel SeedDekalb/AsgrowAgri-GoldFCS Financial of MaryvilleYounger OilRiver Valley AgMFA Oil of MaryvilleConsumers Oil Co.Nodaway Valley BankMissouri Pork AssociationNodaway County Farm Bureau InsuranceMFA, Inc.Orscheln’sNodaway Farm BureauKevin Neal InsuranceEnterprise RealtyZiegler, Inc.Northwest Implement, Inc.Summa Implement Co.Derr EquipmentNorthwest Technical SchoolArea I FFA OfficersRon Sobotka Tractor Ice CreamMaryville Saddle Club 4-HElks ClubNWMSU FoundationFastenal CompanyHeart of America Tractor CruiseDexter BarmannMizzou Mini-Pulling Tractors
Please Support our 2013 Tour Sponsors
at J.L. Houston Co. From there, the buses rolled across one of the poor-est blacktops in Northwest Missouri which made some riders sick. They arrived at Honan Farm where visitors had cookies, tea and lemon-ade. They listened to a presentation by the MYF/YFW President Nathan Honan about Honans’ century farm that produces corn, beans, clover, oats and yearling steers. Nathan’s parents, aunts and uncles were also on hand to answer questions. The final stop on Monday was Blake Hurst’s family greenhouses. Blake and his family displayed equipment that makes their jobs slightly easier, and Blake gave a history lesson about their operation. Some took an alter-native tour to see the Monastery in Conception and the Sisters of Perpet-
Top Photo: Visitors relaxed at Honan Family Farms. Above: Hurst Greenery welcomed tour-goers.
Agriculture. Education. Leadership. Service. Page 5
ual Adoration in Clyde. That group also got to see beautifully restored house in Maryville that is now a bed and breakfast. Monday evening a pork loin supper was served by Missouri Farm Bureau. Most went back to their hotel rooms soon after because it was cold and windy. Tuesday was Northwest Day. Rod
Department of Agricultural Sciences, NWMSU
NWMSU Arboretum
Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration
Conception Abbey
Honan Farms
Victorian Rental Getaway
Silver Spur Salers
Stiens Grain and Livestock
Houston Polytank Steel
Fabricator
Missouri Moisture Analyzers
Byergo Angus Farm
Barmann Sod Farm
Honan Farms
Hurst Greenery
Kawasaki Motors
Manufacturing Corp.
Thanks to our 2013 Tour Hosts
Photo far left: Mem-bers toured the Byergo Angus Farm. Left: Attendees on the alternative tour visited Concpetion Abbey.
Nodaway County
Agri-Leadersthanks all who attended and supported the 2013 MYF/YFW Summer Tour
Barr, Northwest Missouri State Uni-versity Ag Depart-ment chair, gave an overview of the Ag-riculture Department and then let us look around the agricul-ture mechanics and aquaculture facili-ties. We also took a bus tour of the uni-versities R.T. Wright farm north of cam-pus. A look at the community garden was included. The produce from this garden is taken to the local food bank. The CIE building was the site for the
final presentation by Missouri Mois-ture Analyzers which make grain testing equipment and Chlorophyll which produces different styles of chip board out of sorghum. Northwest faculty served sandwiches and chips for lunch and then the state officers made some announcements and the 2013 summer tour adjourned.
Page 6 Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives
Photo contest highlights rural life for young farmers
A photo contest was introduced for the first time at the 2013 Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives State Convention. To enter the 2014 contest, see the entry form on page 7. Congratulations to this year’s winners. They include: Animals Category: Treena DeVault (Photo top left)Rural Work Day: Ted DeVault (Photo top right)Landscape: Ted DeVault (Photo Above)People: Steve Yates(Photo left and featured on cover)
Click on each category above to see a full screen image.
Enter the 2014 MYF/YFW Photo ContestJoin the 2014 MYF/YFW Photo Contest! The purpose of the Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives photo contest is to showcase amateur photography of rural and agricultural Missouri. Below are the contest rules and instructions.
Categories: Landscapes People Rural Workday Animals
Entry Criteria: 1. The Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives photo contest is open to all members who are amateur photographers (one who receives less than half of their disposable income from photography). 2. All photos must be taken by the entrant.3. Entrants may submit multiple photos per category.4. Entrants may enter all four categories if desired.5. A complete entry form must accompany each photo. Do not staple or paper clip; the form taped to the back of the image is fine.6. Photos must be taken within the last two years.7. Color and black and white photos are eligible.*8. If identifiable persons are included in a photo, a release must accompany the entry.9. Youth entries must include the signature of a parent or guardian on the entry form. 10. All photos must be submitted in print at the state convention. Photos must be 8x10 and displayed in a frame when submitted.11. All entries submitted become the property of Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives, giving MYF/YFW permission to use them in publications, promotions, calendars or displays, with proper credit given to the photographer.12. Entries may not be returned, however frames will be returned.To Enter: You must deliver your photo to the State Convention held in Columbia. Judging: 1. Judges will be member of the Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Executive committee.2. Judges may move a photo to a new category if it is more suitable.3. A photo can be disqualified if it does not meet all the requirements. Deadline: Entries must be delivered by Feb. 7, 2014. No late entries. Winning Notifications: Winners will be announced at the Missouri Young Farm¬er and Young Farm Wives Annual Convention, February 9, 2014, in Columbia.Contest Contact: Jennifer Thogmartin (417) 437-5823 [email protected]*Note: Photo release(s) may be required (see above). The release(s) should state: “I, ____, do hereby acknowledge that
the individuals in the photos understand the sponsoring organization claim the rights to all photos, including the rights to publish, upload on the internet, or televise, for use in promoting a positive message for agriculture and that their name, like-ness, or image may be used. I agree to release and hold harmless the sponsoring organization from and against any claim, expense or liability arising from or related to submission, participation in the contest, and appearance on the program and/or acceptance of any prize,” followed by a signature and the date.
Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives 2014 Photo Contest Entry Form
Name: _______________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
Select Photo Category: ___Landscapes ____People ___Rural Workday ___Animals
Description of your photo with date, location, persons, season, etc: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Deadline: Entries must be received/delivered by Feb. 7, 2014. No late entries.
The Missouri YF/YFW awarded six scholarships to college students pre-paring to become agricultural education teachers. Winners were announced at the 2013 MYF/YFW Summer Tour held in Maryville on July 28-30, 2013. The recipients were each nominated by one of the five universities in Missouri that train agricultural education teachers. To be eligible for the scholarship, students needed to plan to teach agricultural education in Mis-souri upon graduation, complete the application and attend the MYF/YFW Summer Tour. While at the tour they were interviewed by the scholarship committee. The silent auction at the State MYF/YFW Convention each February helps to fund the scholarships.
Winners are show with MYF/YFW committee members in the photo above from left to right: Jordan Yoder, committee member; Tony Miesner, committee member; Lydia Holland – Southeast MO State University (Sulli-van); David Slater – Northwest MO State University (Trenton); Ryan Carr – Missouri State University (Webb City); Jill Blakenship – University of MO (Barnett); Justin Mauss – MO State University (Bois D’Arc); Jessica Murphy – Northwest MO State University (Maryville); Lucas Thogmartin, MYF committee member; Fred Weiker, MYF committee member.
Scholarship supports future ag teachers
Mark your calendar: 2014 MYF/YFW
State Convention is Feb. 7-9
Things are already coming to-gether for the 2014 Missouri Young Farmers State Convention. It hopes to be a big fun event for everyone this year. The convention will be held at the Courtyard Marriot in Columbia on Feb. 7 -9. Pre-registration is $35 to $50 at the convention with kids 12 and under for half-price. Don’t forget to get ready for the photo contest, toy show, and craft show. Speakers are being booked for another great set of seminars. After all the fun had last year the mini tour will be back again. On Friday before the convention there will be a tour of locations in and around Columbia for a fun afternoon. Click here to see the photo entry form on page 7. Be sure to watch for the winter edition for registration and more details.
Member advises: ‘Seller beware’
Buyer beware is a pretty com-mon saying, but when talking about hay sales, I think buyers and sellers should beware.
My younger brother and I had a negative incident with hay sales this summer. We had baled hay for one of our landlords on shares. Said landlord had been selling hay to a customer for a few years, so we did not communicate with the customer and let the landlord negotiate for us. The landlord and customer had agreed on a price and our landlord delivered the hay.
When we received our check, it was for only 2/3 of what it should have been, based on the landlord’s and customer’s agreement. I called the customer and said there was a mistake, and I either needed the rest of the money, or I could come and get the hay if he didn’t want to pay
what was agreed upon. He decided he wouldn’t pay the remaining balance, and said that we would be arrested for stealing if we tried to repossess the hay. At this time, we felt very fortunate the hay was only 30 miles away, and not in another state. It was agreed between the landlord and my younger brother and I that something had to be done. Small-claims court seemed to be the best option. We won our small-claims case thanks to the landlord’s involvement as a witness.
The proof in small-claims was tough without the aid of a written agree-ment.
This sale was done like most deals we make. It was agreed to with a “hand shake”. This is how most farmer do business – oral contracts. I would strongly encourage if you are doing business with someone new, to have something in writing, whether you are the buyer or seller, to prevent situations such as this.
- Contributed by Derek Lowrey
Page 8 Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives
National Institute Planner 2013The National Institute (provided through the National Young Farmers Education Association) is in San Antonia, Texas on Dec 4-7, 2013. This page includes links to everything you need to plan and register for the event.
2013 NYFEA Institute
San Antonio, Texas
December 4th—8th
Young Farmers - - A Golden Past - A Brighter Future
Texas Young Farmers
“Welcome to
the Lone Star
State”
Dinner and Dancing in Luckenbach
http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/
A Texas Hill Country hamlet complete with blacksmith shop, post office, beer joint, dance hall and cotton gin.
Luckenbach, Texas http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdsanders/14946739/
“The only two things in life that make it worth living, Is guitars tuned good and firm-feeling women. Well, I don’t need my name in the marquee lights, I got my song and I got you with me tonight. Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas With Waylon and Willie and the
boys. This successful life we’re living’s Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys. Be-tween Hank Williams pain songs, Steve Goodman train songs, Blue eyes crying in the rain, Out in Luckenbach, Tex-as, Ain’t nobody feeling no pain. So baby let’s sell your diamond ring. To buy some boots and faded jeans and go away. This coat and tie is choking me In your high society you cry all day. We’ve been so busy keeping up with the jones Four-car garage and we’re still building on.” Written by Waylon Jennings
Wildflower Seed Farm 100 Legacy Drive, Fredericksburg, Texas 800-848-0078 http://www.wildseedfarms.com/index.phpThrough the ages, Mother Nature worked alone splashing the coun-
tryside with brilliant colors. In 1983, there were very few sources for wildflower seeds and the seeds that were available were prohibitively expensive. Today, Wildseed Farms in Fredericks-burg, Texas lends a hand. John R. Thomas, Wildseed's founder and president, knows the importance of beautiful wildflowers along our highways. The farm has more than 1,000 cultivat-ed acres in Texas and over 200 acres of wildflower fields at its Hill Country headquarters outside of Fredericks-burg. Come and view a real working wildflower farm and stay to shop at Blossoms Boutique, Lantana Nursery and the famous Brewbonnet Biergarten. Fun for the whole fami-ly! Visitors can explore walking trails, watch the farm staff work and take photos. In Pick Your Own fields, they can create bou-quets. They can buy wildflower seeds and pick up one of the farm's award-winning and extremely informative catalogs. And for shopping and shipping, there's a gift shop and a Brewbonnet Biergarten.
Becker Vineyards Becker Vineyards is located near Fredericks-burg, TX in the Hill Country. The following information is found on their website: http://www.beckervineyards.com.Their Story: Twenty years ago began a
search for a log cabin to renovate and create a hill country geta-way for Dr. Richard and Bunny Becker. Having traveled exten-sively abroad and pas-sionate about culinary and wine experiences. The Becker’s enjoyed frequenting the few local wineries as well. The cabin was soon discov-ered but along with it 46 acres of raw land, fallow fields of deep sand and Precambrian granitic soils 1500 feet above sea level. The site was rampant with native Mustang grapes, a time hon-
ored and essential component of the local German Herit-age. Both Richard and Bunny were suc-cessful gardeners in their own right and the dream of a com-mercial vineyard and
“maybe” a 1500 case winery began to take shape. The first plant-ings in 1992 were lovingly placed in the ground by friends and family, including the Becker’s two sons, Will and Joe. The first harvest in 1995 set in motion what is now just over a 100,000 case winery. With wines served in the stateliest of settings in-cluding the White House and the James Beard House.
Friday Evening
Becker Farms Inc. employs 50 people farms 46 acres of estate fruit and lavender along with the famous Stonewall peach orchards. As you make your way down Becker Farms Road, you will take in fields of native wildflowers, peach orchards and seasonal hay production.
Kick (or click)
here to see
the full brochure online.
Visit the Texas Young Farmers at txyoungfarmers.org and find the “2013 NYFEA” tab (circled in the image below) for links to the event registration, details about a bonus tour of King’s Ranch, information about the San Antonio area and more. If you need a paper version to print easily, see page 10. We’ll see ya’ll in Texas!
Agriculture. Education. Leadership. Service. Page 9
2013 NYFEA Institute December 4th – 7th, 2013
San Antonio, Texas
NYFEA Registration Form
Hotel: Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade, 9821 Colonnade Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas 78230. Phone: (210) 691-8888, Fax: (210) 691-1128. See hotel information on page 8 . Note: NYFEA attendees let the hotel know you are with NYFEA Institute group. Schedule: See the brochure link on page 9 of the MYF/YFW newsletter. Wed., Dec. 4th – King Ranch Tour – Leaves Hotel @ 7:15am and returns @ 4:45pm. (includes lunch) ($75.00 per person pay-
able to Texas Young Farmers separate from the NYFEA Institute)
Thurs. Dec. 5th – Breakfast at Hotel, Morning - Mission San Jose and James Madison High School Tours, Lunch, Afternoon – Downtown San Antonio (Alamo, Mexican Market and The Riverwalk), “Taste of Texas” at the Hotel from 6:30pm – 9:30pm.
Friday, Dec. 6th – Breakfast at Hotel, All Day, Lunch included, Tours of the “Hill Country” (Wildseed Farm, Becker Vineyards, LBJ Ranch and Johnson City). Followed by dinner at Luckenbach, TX with a dance.
Sat., Dec. 7th – NYFEA Institute Activities at the Hotel. Noon – Luncheon followed by a Texas Style Scholarship Auction. Other NYFEA Activities will be noted in registration packet.
Costs:$75 - King Ranch Tour (This is separate from the NYFEA and sponsored by TYF.) See details on the Texas Young Farmer homep-
age (link is on page 8)
$275 - Registration for NYFEA Members for all days listed payable through NYFEA.
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Register online at NYFEA website – see links on page 8 of the newsletter. If a computer is not available, you can mail this Registration Form and Registration Fees (payable to NYFEA) to: NYFEA: P. O. Box 20326, Montgomery, AL 36120 Early Bird Registration Deadline: October 15, 2013 Name(s): ___________________________________ YF State: _________Area: ______ Chapter: ______________ Address: _____________________________________ City, State and Zip: __________________________________ Email Address: _________________________________________________ ____ Phone: (_____)______-_________All Texans attending as NYFEA attendees please register through NYFEA for all NYFEA events: King Ranch Special Tour on Wed. Dec. 4th $75 each (Use Registration Form on Texas Young Farmer Website) NYFEA Attendance to all events: $275 each # _____ @ $275 = _________ NYFEA Daily Rate is $100 each day Thursday # _____ @ $100 = _________ NYFEA Daily Rate is $100 each day Friday # ______ @ $100 = _________ NYFEA Daily Rate is $100 each day Saturday # ______ @ $100 = _________ NYFEA Student Rate is $239 all events # ______ @ $239 = __________ (Students must attend AG Communication & YALE Pgm) TOTAL DUE: _____________ Credit Card Information: Number: _______________________________ Exp Date: _____________ Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________
Page 11 Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives
Jennifer Thogmartin, Vice-PresidentSouthwest DistrictHow are you involved in Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives? I live in Neosho and have been a part of the East Newton Young Farmers for the past 4 years. I have attended the state convention and summer tours the past few years, as well as the National Institutes in Memphis and Kansas City.
Are you involved in other areas of Missouri agriculture? My husband and I raise corn, soybeans and wheat. We also have a commercial cow/calf operation and background our calves and sell as yearlings. Along with our farming operation, we own and operate a custom agriculture
spraying business and I am an FFA Advisor and Agriculture Teacher at Neosho. Agriculture is a very impor-tant part of our lives. My husband and I are both fourth-generation farmers and are passing our love of agriculture on to our son Mack, who is 2. Mack truly loves farming and being around cattle. He is his happiest when he is able to “go farm with dad.”
What are some favorite MYF/YFW memories? My favorite part of being involved in Young Farmers is the opportunity to network with other people who have the same mindset as you. Being able to visit with them and talk about how they have overcome challenges and obstacles is good motivation to keep working towards your goals and pre-serving American agriculture.
What’s the best part of Missouri Young Farmers and being involved in Missouri agriculture? I think it is a great time to be in-volved in agriculture and the best part about our Young Farmer chapter is the members. We have members that span over 50 years and it is a great resource to be able to look to
those older members for advice.
What would you like to say to readers?Now, more than ever, it is important to network with other produces and those involved in agriculture. We need to be able to have those connec-tions to tell our story and protect our industry. Young Farmers is a great way to make those connections with others from across the state, and na-tion, and be able to work together to promote the industry we all care about so much.
Nathan Honan, PresidentNorthwest District
How are you involved in Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives? I’ve been a member of the Nodaway County Agri-Leaders in Maryville since 2000. I’ve attended the state convention, run the farm show booth and the summer tour for the first time this summer, the national convention in Kansas City as well as local and district meetings. Is your family involved as well? My wife Nicki is a past district and state officer and an ag teacher at South Nodaway High school and an FFA advisor. Our three-year-old daughter Addison goes to all the MYF meet-ings and events with us.
Get to know your state officersGet to know your state officersWe asked some members of the state executive team to answer a few questions to help
members and other readers get to know them better. Here’s what they had to say.
Photo below left: Jennifer, Lucas and Mack Thogmartin pose for a family photo. Left: Mack gets an early start at the show cattle business. Below: Nicki and Nathan Honan show off little ones Brewer and Addison.
Agriculture. Education. Leadership. Service. Page 12
How else are you involved in Missouri agriculture? I am a 5th generation Farmer from Elmo. We grow corn, waxy corn, soy-beans, oats, clover for hay and seed, and background cattle on silage and hay through winter and then on grass-only through the summer months.
Do you have a favorite MYF/YFW memory? I was tour guide during the National Institute in Kansas City. This event sold me on being involved beyond the local level. I will never forget it because of the new friends I made and all the people who told me what a good job I did and asked questions about life in Northwest Missouri after the tour was over.
What else would you like to say to readers?I really enjoy the annual local meeting because I get to visit with guys that I don’t see the rest of the year because of the distance I live away from the rest of the members. I also get to find out information from others’ experi-ences or learn about equipment that I am looking at purchasing for the coming year.
Jody Bergman, Vice-PresidentCentral DistrictWhat’s your home chapter? I am from the Santa Fe Ag-ri-Leaders Chapter of Mis-souri Young Farmers. I live in Alma, within part of the consolidated school district know as Santa Fe R-X School District.
What activities are you a part of? I have been actively involved in the Santa Fe Agri-Leaders Chapter since it was chartered. My state and region-al activities have included the MYF/YFW executive board, 2011 National Institute in Missouri Committee and the Central District Representative. Local activities include founding charter president, multiple chapter board roles, the Grain Symposium Committee, Crop Demonstration Plot Committee, Summer Tour Commit-tee, Annual Meeting Committee, Win-
ter Seminar Series Committee and the Outreach/Networking BBQ team.
Is your family also involved in Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives?Yes. My wife Tiffany, my parents and brother are founding members of the local chapter. My Brother Jeff has been the local and state president not to mention served on numerous com-mittees. My mother, Mary Jane, has catered for the local chapter, state tour and numerous committee functions. My three sons, Caleb, Connor, and Caedon, have participated in local, state and national functions to the de-gree that they can since we could carry and/or hold their hands to an event. My wife, Tiffany, and I are expecting a fourth son in December.
How else are you involved in agriculture? I actively farm within a family opera-tion than now spans four generations and includes row crop, hay, custom-farming and cow-calf operations. I also maintain a fulltime position as the Parks and Recreation director for the City of Concordia.
What are some favorite MYF/YFW memories?
It has been a great honor and exciting experience to be a part of a group of like-minded men, women and families that came together to start, maintain and grow a local chapter of Missouri Young Farmers. This has included success-fully hosting a true
family event with the Summer Tour and then taking that same neighborly comfort to the next level in a success-ful National Institute in Kansas City. What else would you like to say to readers? Thank you to all those that have shown a lifetime of support to Mis-souri Young Farmers. Share your own stories of sweat, pride and enjoyment with someone new so they and you won’t be a stranger to this organi-zation. Each of you has something, maybe several things, to offer. Volun-teer those talents to build upon what we have.
Derek Lowrey, Vice-PresidentNorthwest DistrictTell the readers a little about your involvement in MYF/YFW. I have been a member of the Chilli-
cothe Young Farmers Chapter for three years. I live near Trenton in the north central part of the state. I went two years at North Central Missouri College before transferring to North-west Missouri State University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Tech-nology in Agriculture. I worked at the University dairy farm, which is where I met my wife Sarah. We have been married for just over three years.
Is your family also involved in agriculture? Sarah is a farm loan officer for Farm
Service Agency. We also farm with my dad and younger brother. Our farming operation consists of corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and we also background several head of heifers. In addition, we custom farm quite a bit in our area.
What other activities are you a part of? In my free time, I enjoy collecting and restoring John Deere two cylinder and new generation tractors. I also collect any old equipment and have a large collection of new old stock parts. We use all these tractors on our farm including anything from a 1937 John
“Share your own stories of sweat, pride and enjoy-ment with some-one new so they
and you won’t be a stranger to this organization.”
Photo: Derek Lowrey poses with his wife Sarah; both are members of Chillicothe Young Farmers.
Deere A all the way up to my 1973 John Deere 7520.
What’s your favorite thing about being involved in MYF/YFW? My favorite part of Young Farmers is getting to talk to other farmers in my area. It is interesting to discuss operations that are similar to mine and see how they deal with situa-tions. It is good to talk with both established farmers and young farmers just starting, like me. These meetings provide a great source of information.
Watch future newsletter issues for more about the state MYF/YFW officers.
MISSOURI AG CALENDAR - CLICK ON EVENT FOR DETAILSProvided by Missouri Department of Agriculture
2013September 21: South Farm Showcase at South Farm Research Center, Columbia September 25: Forage Systems Field Day at Forage Systems Research Center, Columbia October 4: Wurdack Field Day at Hugo Wurdack Research Center, Cook StationOctober 5: Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center Field Day, New Franklin
2014January 23-25: Heart of America Dairy Expo, Ramada Oasis Hotel and Convention Center (formerly Missouri Dairy Forum), SpringfieldFebruary 7-9: Missouri Young Farmers State ConventionFebruary 8: Missouri Nut Growers Assn. Annual Meeting Community Center(After Jan. 1, visit: www.missourinutgrowers.org), Nevada
Upcoming Missouri Ag Events